The Tribune’s recent editorial “The ballot mess in Cook County” misleads readers into thinking that the “old machine” is behind the political assault to which I, the first female Democratic candidate to run for Cook County assessor since 1932, have been subjected.

Many of these local women candidates had their reputations slandered by biased challengers, while some were confronted with a herculean number of required signatures at 8,236 (when statewide governor and attorney general candidates needed 5,000).

That is why several have filed appeals for fair ballot access, not only at the Circuit and Appellate courts, but also with the federal district court. We’ve joined open-government ballot-access organizations to cease the silencing of women’s voices in the state- and countywide election process.

The Tribune misses a critical point — it’s not just “machine style” tactics by entrenched incumbents and party slate-makers that have been challenging my candidacy and others.

Indeed, it’s the very so-called progressives, whom I have worked with for over three decades in good government causes and progressive candidate campaigns, who have prevented me from getting my message out to voters.

It was wrong for the Cook County clerk to openly endorse my opponent and urge me to withdraw. It was wrong for the self-proclaimed progressive candidate, with absolutely no record on property tax reform issues, to continue to object to my candidacy for two months and three weeks.

Your readers deserve to hear the truth. Both the so-called progressive leaders and their organizations are lockstep with the good-old-boys of the Democratic Party as tag-team slate-makers in races of their interest. Both set the women’s movement in Cook County many steps backward.

I am still on the ballot and will fight until the end because now — more than ever — women deserve the right to run for office and not be intimidated by machine-style political operatives and the new machine progressives.

The Cook County assessor’s seat should never be for sale at the cost of disenfranchisement of voters who should be allowed diverse choices.

Defending our 23,585 signatures from double objections by both opponents Tax Assessor Berrios Asset Manager Fredrick Kaegi today. Of the 170 Cook County candidates 26% are women~ 36% face challenges. I’m the only candidate with double challenges attempting to deny access to the ballot for minorities and women. Our smart 2 member legal team faces off with their 7 legal team next week….Thank you supporters from 2010 and 2017!!

Andrea Raila is reminding all owners of Class 9 incentive properties that the Cook County Assessor’s deadline to file an annual affidavit in order to re-establish their incentive class assessments is this Friday, November 17, 2017.

Follow this link http://bit.ly/2hyC8GF to obtain the required affidavit available on the Cook County Assessor’s website.

Andrea is urging anextension of this Friday, November 17, 2017’s Deadline for Class 9 incentive properties to allow hard pressed landlords, who were given no warning that their incentive program would be removed, to have the opportunity to control their escalating taxes that on average could increase almost 50%.

Download a PDF version of the class 9 documents shown below by clicking here

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Testimonial

Andrea is a true public servant, a servant leader, committed to her biological family, her neighborhood community and the human community. She affirms goodness in others, is not afraid to challenge actions and systems that are not working for the common good, has a heart for those who are less resourced and is willing and ready to share her wisdom in a comprehensible manner. I wholeheartedly endorse her for public office.

Jim Manzardo

Andrea Raila is one of the hardest working, smartest, and most dedicated professionals that I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I am proud to recommend her for public office and know that is one of the best public servants to take the oath of office in Illinois.

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“You should be Prime Minister of Taxes!” – Studs Terkel

About Andrea Raila for Cook County Assessor

I’m running for Cook County Assessor, the first Democratic woman candidate since 1932. Download our petition, collect signatures and help me get on the ballot!

“Paid for and authorized by Taxpayers to Elect Andrea Raila. A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available on the Board’s official website (www.elections.il.gov) or for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois.”